Understanding Factors Associated with Youth Loneliness Through a Gender Lens: A National Study from Spain

Youth loneliness has emerged as a major social concern, yet its associated social factors remain insufficiently understood. Using nationally representative data from the 2023 Survey of Spanish Youth, this study examines loneliness among young people aged 15–34 in Spain, focusing on gender differences in both its prevalence and its associated social factors. Loneliness is measured using the 3-item University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale. We analysed its relationship with sociodemographic, economic, relational, digital and psychosocial factors through multivariate regression models stratified by gender. Nearly one third of young people report experiencing loneliness, with a higher prevalence among women. Mental well-being shows the strongest association with loneliness, followed by material deprivation and recent life transitions. Relational embeddedness—especially the frequency of contact with friends—and sexual orientation are also strongly associated with loneliness, with marked differences by gender. Passive social media use shows a modest but significant association. The findings indicate that loneliness among young people is associated not only with individual psychological characteristics but also with inequalities in relational integration and material conditions, while gender shapes the relative importance of these associations. The study underlines the importance of adopting a gender-sensitive and life-course perspective in research and policy responses addressing youth loneliness.